Apparatus for towing, mooring, and the like



June 24,1930. R. H. ROGERS 20 APPARATUS FOR TOWING, MOORING, AND THE LIKE Original F iled March 17, 1925 g/sa Inventor". R0 be rt: H. Rogers.

His Attornqy.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT E. ROGERS, OF ALPLAU S, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC OOH- PANY, A QORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR TOWING, MOORING, AND THE LIKE Original application filed Harcl 17, 1923, Serial No. 625,895. Divided and this application filed October 15, 1924. Serial No. 743,836.

My invention relates to apparatus for towin mooring and the like and has for its ob ect the provision of simple, reliable and efiicient apparatus of this character and in which an electric motor may be used as the driving means.- This application is a division of my prior application, Serial No. 625,895, filed March 17, 1923.

More specifically my invention relates to apparatus associated with the towing or mooring cable for the purpose of taking in and giving out cable so as to prevent excessive strains on the cable. Such apparatus is especially needful, for example, in rough seas-to prevent the cable from being broken due to the sudden movements of the vessel or vessels to which it is attached. My invention' also relates to automatic anchor lifting apparatus.

In a commonly suggested form of,towing and mooring apparatus, a friction clutch or brake is provided which is arranged to hold the drum under normal conditions but to slip to pay out cable and relievethe tension when it becomes abnormally hi 'h. One disadvantage of such a system is t at the static friction of the clutch is indeterminate, de-

pending on the condition of the clutch, and is approximately greater under the best of conditions than the slipping friction for which the clutch is adjusted.

correspondingly great tension on the cable is, therefore, required to cause the clutch to slip. When the clutch is allowed to stand for a considerable length of time without being used, as is often the case, the static friction may become many times greater than the value previously indicated. Furthermore, the slipping friction varies with the condition of the clutch. Thus in the opto relatively high peaks in tension before the clutch slips, the tension quickly falling off after the clutch starts to slip to a value which is also variable. Another disadvantage of such systems is the time lag due to the inertia ofthe. parts. Since the cable tension builds up very quickly, each surge seldom lasting over three seconds, the delay in paying out cable incident to the inertia of the aparatus also results in in creased cable tension. This is particularly true when the cable in paying out carries with it the entire driving mechanism and motor. With such devices, therefore, the, cable tension varies over a comparatively wide and interminate range requiring the cable and other parts of the apparatus tobe i mg out cable is practically instantaneous,

are avoided. In one form of my invention I provide an electromagnetic brake for the motor which is controlled simultaneously with the motor so as to be applied to lock the motor when it is deenergized and released to permit the motor to operate freely in either direction to pay out or wind up cable. I

For a better understanding of my inven tion reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view of towing apparatus embodying my invention. 'Figx-Q is adiagrammatic view showing the control system for the electric motor, and Fig. 3 is a view showing details of my invention adapted to mooring.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the towing apparatus in one form of my invention comprises a drum 10 on which the towing cable 11 may be wound up which is operated by means of an electric driving motor 12, preferably of the series type. The electric motor is operatively connected to the drum by means'of a worm 13 in axial alignment with the shaft of the motor and cooperating with a wormgear 14 secured to the drum. A connection or coupling 15 permitting relative movement in an axial p'ess the springs 18, then the shaft 16 will given a limited movement in an axial direction independently of motor 12 which movement is permitted by con ling 15.

The starting, stopping an direction. of rotation of the motor is controlled by means of a switch arm 20 which is in the form of two branches 'pivotally mounted at their junction at the lower end. Secured to arm 20 at its pivot is a spur gear 21 cooperating with which is a rack 22 by means of which the contact arm may be tilted into engagement with one or the other of oppositely disposed stationary contacts 20 and 20". The rack 22 is pivotally attached at its right hand end to an upright lever 23 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a ,collar 24, mounted on shaft lfi between collars so as to partake of the axial movement of the shaft but not its rotary movement; Adjacentto the upper end ofthe lever 23 I provide auxiliary means for increasing the tensionv required to cause the motor 12 to continue paying out cable as the amount paid out increases, this auxiliary means comprisin a disc 25 which is driven by the drum 10 t rough a mechanical driving connection consisting of a worm gear 26 secured to the disc, worm 27, shaft 28, worm gear 29, and worm 30 secured to the drum. Arranged around the edge of the disc 25 are a I lurality of holes 31, 8 being shown in the rawing. The upper end of lever 23 is forked and embraces a pin or peg 32 secured in one of the holes 31. As thus arranged as the plate 25 is rotated from the drum 10 through the driving mechanism previously described, the lever 23 is tilted in tion or the other. A suitable electromagnetic brake 33 is provided for the motor. This brake is released by an operating coil 33 (Fig. 2) which is in series with the electric motor in a well-known manner so that when the motor is operating the brake is released,

while the deenergizatlon of the motor imme-' 'diately applies the brake locking the motor.

The contact arm 20 may be arranged to control the circuit of the motor 12, but preferably it is arranged in a control circuit, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to selectively control the energization of differential fields 34.- and 35 for the motor and thus control the direction. of rotation of the motor.

one direc- When the contact arm is moved to engage stationary contact 2O a circuit is closed from the source of supply 36 through operating coil 37 whereby contactor 38 is closed and a circuit for the motor thereby closed through the motor field 35, the armature of the motor and through operating coil 33 of the brake 33. The motor thereupon starts up and operates in one direction as deternnned by the field winding 35,, brake 33 having been released by the energization of 'coil 33. Upon engagement of contaetor 20 ,ing resistances for the motor are shown,

while the reversing of the motor is shown as effected by differential fields. Obviously any suitable control system for the motor may be used.

As thus constructed and arranged the operation of the towing apparatus is as follows: VViththe various members in the rela tive positions shown in the drawing, the electric motor 12 will be at rest and a' predetermined length of cable 11 will extend between the ship and its tow- These normal conditions will exist as long as the tension applied to the cable 11 is less than a predetermined value determined by the strength of the cable, for example,- 2700 lbs. and hence is not great enough to appreciably compress the springs 18. Assuming now that due to rough seas or some abnormal condition, the tension rises to the predetermined maximum, then the springs 18 will be compressed permitting shaft 16 to move axially toward the right whereby the switch arm 20 is thrown to the left into engagement with stationary contact 20, through the connection afforded by lever 23 and rack 22,

lever 23 turning about peg 32 as a fulcrum. This closes the circuit of the electric motor 12 and releases brake 33, whereupon the motor starts up in a direction to rotate drum 10 in a counter clockwise direction and thus pays out more cable and relieves the tension. The motor will continue to operate and pay out more cable as long as an abnormal tension is applied, although the tension necessary to cause the cable to be given out will gradually increase. This is due to the effect of the turning of disc 25 by the drum 10. For this direction of" rotation of the drum (counter clockwise) ,the disc 25 will move in a'clockwise direction carrying the upper end of lever 23 with it toward'the left which moves rack 22 toward the left and tends to disengage contact 20 from stationary contact 20 and open the circuit of the motor 12.

In order to overcome this tendency to open the motor circuit, it will be observed that a gradually increased tension must be a plied caused its abnormal increase, then shaft 1'6v will move toward the left returning to its original position and tilting the contact arm 20 in a clockwise direction so as to disen gage stationary contact 20 whereby the motor circuit is broken. Due to the dis-vv placement of the upper end of lever 23 toward the left, as previously described, contact arm 20 will engage stationary contact 20", however, when the shaft 16 has returned to its original position after the tension in the cable has dropped below the predetermined maximum. The electric motor 12 will thus be started in the opposite direction to wind up thecable. Disc 25 will at the same time be rotated in a counter clockwise direction back towards its original position and when it reaches this position and has thus returned lever 23 to its original upright position, contact arm 20 will be tilted to the left to midposition whereby the motor circuit is broken and brake 33 a plied. It will be observed that the angu ar position of disc 25 depends on the angular position of the reel 10 and hence is a measure of the length-of cable extending between the ship and its tow. Since the dlsc 25 always comes to rest in the same angular position under normal conditions, that is, with the peg 32 at its lowermost point, it will be observed that a constant length of cable will thus be maintained. its long as the strain on the cable is below the predetermined maximum value, the apparatus will remain at rest, motor 12 being deenergized and the brake 33 being applied to lock the*motor and thus hold the drum from turning. The apparatus thus operates to maintain a predetermined length of cable for, although the cable is temporarily given out to relieve excessive strain thereafter upon the reoccurrence of normal conditions the cable is wound up again to the predetermined length.

The holes 31 in the disc 25 are provided to allow for adjustment of the length of cable which it is desired to maintain under normal conditions. By changing the position of the peg, 32, the position in which disc '25 will cometo rest can be'varied since the disc always comes to rest with the peg at its lowermost point, whereby the length of cable which will be automatically malntained is regulated. In adjusting the cable to the desired length, the peg 32 may be removed and the electric motor controlled by hand by moving the upper end of lever 23 so as to adjust the cable to the desired length after which the peg 32 is placed in the lowermost aperture. v

Under usual conditions of operation disc 25 will be turned through only a small angle, andthe peg 32 will not be carried out of the slot in the upper end of lever 23. The

open slot is provided for emergencies, suchas when the towed vessel goes aground and a great length of cable must be given out, inwhich case disc 25 will be turned through -,a considerable angle and the peg will, there- .f}for -e, be carried out of the slot. After the 'f'peg .disengages lever 23 it will be observed that no further increase in tension is requgrl'ed to cause the continuous paying out of ca e..

,In the towing apparatus it will be observed that as long as the cable is adjusted to the predetermined length, a decrease in cable tension to any low value will not in any way affect the motor. In case the length of the cable has been increased to relieve excessive strains, however, then the adjustment of the control apparatus will be temporarily changed, by the tilting of lever 23 to-the left, so that a subsequent decrease in tension will cause the niotor to take up cable until the original length has been restored at which time the control apparatus will have been restored to its former adjustment. It will be thus observed that by removing the mechanical connection between lever 23 and the drum and setting the lever permanently in some position such tension will be thus maintained entirely independently of the length of the cable. It will also be observed that by adjusting the position of lever 23, that is by moving its upper end to the right or left, the mean tension which will be regulated. Such a device .is particularly adapted for mooring. A. convenient arrangement providin for such adjustment of the upper end 0 lever 23 is shown in Fig. 3.

' Referring to Fig. 3, the upper end of lever 23 maybe pivotally secured to a. travelling nut 40 mounted on a threaded shaft 40 which may beturned in either direction by meansv of a handwheel 41 soas to adjust the position thereon of the nut 40 and hence the position off-lever 23. For con- 1 venience in setting, a pointer may be provided on the travelling nut which pointer cooperates with a suitable stationary scale 43 calibrated in pounds tension on the cable.

maintained will be I i With the exception of this chan e from autoinatic to manual control of ever 23, as shown in the fragmentary view Fig. 3, the mooring apparatus is similar to the towing apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and its operation will be .understood by reference to Fig. 1.

With this arrangement, the pointer is set to indicate on scale 43 the pounds tension, for example, 6000 lbs. which it is desired to maintain on the mooring cable. The motor will now operate to take in cable, contactarm 20 (Fig. 1) having been thrown into engagement with stationary contact 20 by the setting of the pointer, until when this tension is applied to the cable, shaft 16 will be moved axially to the right against the pressure exerted by springs 18 causing contact arm 20 to move to midposition whereby the motor circuit is opened and the brake 33 applied to lock the motor and hold the drum. It will thus be observed that when contact arm 20 is in midposition, springs 18 are partially compressed, shaft 16 being midway, or appreximately so, of its range of movement in an axial direction. Due to this constant tension on the cable, the ship will be brought up to the dock or buoy to which it is moored and will be normally held in this position. In case of heavy seas or other conditions causing the tension 'in the cable to increase to a value somewhat greater than the predetermined mean value of 6000 lbs. shaft 16 will be forced to the right until contact arm 20 engages stationary contact 20". The motor is thus caused to operate in a direction to pay out cable and relieve the tension until stopped by the return of contact arm 20 to midposition after the mean tension has been established. When the tension again decreases to a value somewhat less than the predetermined mean, the cable will be wound up.

While I have described my. invention as embodied inconcrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the rovis1ons of the Patent Statutes, it should be. understood that I do not limit my in vention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. Apparatus for controlling the cablgof a towing ormooring machine or the like, comprising a drum for winding up .the cable, a motor for operating said drum, means operated responsively to the tension of the cable for controlling said motor to pay out cable upon the occurrence of a predetermined tension, and auxiliary means responsive to rotation of said drum for increasing the tension required to cause said motor to pay out cable, said auxiliary means including'means for limiting the response of said auxiliary.

means to a predetermined movement of said drum. I

2. Apparatus for controlling the cable for towing or mooring machine or the like, comprising a drum for winding up the cable, an electric motor for operating said drum, control means operated responsively to the tension of the cable for controlling the energization of said motor to pay out cable upon the occurrence of a predetermined tenslon, and auxiliary motor control means responsive to'rotation of said drum for increasing the tension required to cause said motor to pay out cable, said auxiliary control means including means for rendering said auxiliary control means inefiective after a predetermined length of cable has been given out whereby said motor is thereafter controlled to pay out cable without further increase in tension.

3. Apparatus for controlling the cable of a towing or mooring machine or the like, comprising a drum for winding up the cable, a motor for operating said drum, means 0 erated responsively to the tension of t e cable for controlling said motor to pay out cable upon the occurrence of a predetermined tension and to wind up cable upon a subsequent decrease in tension, and a driving connection between said drum and said control means including means dependent upon the rotation of said drum for disconnecting said driving connection.

4. Apparatus for controlling the cable of a towing or mooring machine or the like, comprising a drum for winding up the cable, an electric motor for operating said drum, means operated responsively to the tension of the cable for controlling the energization of said motor to operate in one direction to pay out cable upon the occurrence of a predetermined tension and to o erate in the other direction to wind up cab e upon a subsequent decrease in tenslon, a driving con nection between said drum and said control means whereby the tension required to cause said motor to pay out cable isincreased as cable is given out, and means dependent upon the length. of cable given out for rendering said driving connection ineffective after a predetermined length of cable has been given out and for reestablishing said connection when the cable is wound up.

5. Apparatus for controlling the cable of a towing or mooring machine or the like, comprising a drum for winding up the cable, an electric motor, a yieldable driving connection between said motor and said drum whereby said drum is movable independently of said motor in response to the tension or? the cable, means operated responsively to said independent movement of the drum to control the energization of said motor to pay out cable upon the occurrence of a predetermined tension, and auxiliary control means for said motor responsive to the rotation of said drum for increasing the tension of said cable required to cause said motor to pay out cable, and means dependent upon the length of cable given out for disconnecting said auxiliary control means and-subsequently upon a decrease in tension for reconnecting said auxiliary control means.

6. Apparatus for controlling the cable of a towing or mooring machine or the like, comprising a drum for winding up the cable, an electric motor, a yieldable driving connection between said motor and said drum whereby said drum is movable independently of said motor in response to the tension of the cable, switching means for starting and stopping said motor for each direction of rotation, a driving connection between said drum and said switching means whereby said motor is caused to pay out or wind up cable upon independent movement ofsaid drumin response to changes in tension on said cable, a second driving connection between said drum and said switching means tending to move said switching means to stop said motor as cable is given out, and means for disconnectin said second driving connection after a pre etermined length of cable is given out and for reestablishing said connection when cable is wound up.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of October, 1924.

ROBERT H. ROGERS. 

